This is my first thread here and if it is a repeat of a topic my bad, I did a search and didn't see anything like this after reading through about a hundred thread titles...

I think highly of Nintendo they have a long history, and I think in some ways they are a very shrewd company.  I saw what happened with the Wii, the thing was kind of hard to get a hold of for quite a while after launch (unless you were willing to pay a premium to the gougers which fortunately or otherwise is most usually an option). I'm very sure Nintendo saw what happened with the Wii as well. The way it played out seemed to keep demand for the system alive far longer than what should have happened with an adequate pipeline.  Did they learn from this ... I know some may be thinking demand is demand (hell I'm thinking it possible myself) the people that were going to buy it, buy it period end of story they can only make them so fast ... perhaps

 

What if it is a strategic shortage? Keep demand alive longer than it should be by tightening the pipeline. In this particular case what is it going to hurt? People aren't going to go buy a PS4 or XBoxO instead since this only applies to people that have the game and the system. The only thing that comes to my mind as something that will hurt in {the case of the adapter} is getting knocked off by a MadCatz (are they even still in business? ha ha showing my age) or some fly by night Chinese (or otherwise) company. I'd think Nintendo has an idea of how to deal with knock-offs. Word of mouth can be damaging when it is extremely negative but if you can keep your base talking (even when that talk is really bitching) it will keep it near the forefront of the mind. Even if you bitched (and rightly so either way) you are likely still going to snatch that thing up when you see it so they aren't going to lose that sell.

perhaps Nintendo just miscalculated the demand,

perhaps with the Wii U's performance they are playing with leaner stock levels of accessories so they don't get burnt

perhaps they just don't want your money as one user here suggested

perhaps, perhaps, perhaps...

perhaps the shortage is strategic

 

It's late and I can't say as if I gave this a ton of thought but I am curious as to what you guys think

 

and remember this is my first time so at the very least spit on it first or better yet use lube before tearing this "theory" a new one ;)

disclaimer: use of the word "theory" is looser than a two dollar whore after the end of nickle night

If so, it's a terrible strategy that only hurts current customers as opposed to Wii shortages that made the console itself more desirable.

I wouldn't be surprised, but it's honestly quite stupid how they won't make more adapters.

You could have looked at the Wii shortage in the same light if you were the potential consumer in the then. Depends I guess on who's eyes you're looking through.

It's about synergy. They're using the "sell as few hardware units as possible" strategy for this that they're already pursuing successfully with the Wii U.

You got to be creative nowadays to print money.

Are we sure they won't make more adapters? Is it official? I wouldn't think they would ship retailers 4 new gamecube controlers for every adapter shipped, I see those GC controllers all the time. On the other hand Nindendo has done things in the past that leave me shaking my head.

I sometimes wonder , are they crazy like a fox, crazy like a shithouse rat, or a little of both.  At the end of the day so long as they keep putting out games we enjoy ...

I thought that a posability too thus my second "perhaps" or at least what I was trying to convey with it.

I enjoy conspiracy theories, they are very seldom true but sometimes fun to ponder.

Edit: that may be why I enjoy the TV show Castle (aside from liking Fillion since Firefly)

I don't think Nintendo gives a crap, just like in the past with Xenoblade and Metroid Prime Trilogy.

Could be. (be prepared this isn't exactly apples to apples) Do you think Disney doesn't give a crap and that's why they put their movies "back in the vault" keeping the supply limited?  By the way if that is a strategy of Disney's we'll see how it pans out in the digital age but I digress.